Steam-trap.



L. R. MERTENS & G. BINDER.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLlcAmn msn 1m31. |911.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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L. R. MERTENS 6L G. BINDER.

STEAM IRAP.. APPLICATION FILED: mu 3x. |911.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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LOUIS R. MERTENS AND GOTTLOB BINDER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEN'N'SYI.|`V'A1\TIA,` ASSIGNORS T0 CHARLES J. MILLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. 'y

STEAM-TRAP.

Application filed January 31, 1917.

To aZZ whom t may concern Be it known that we,-LOUis R. MERTENS and GoT'rLoB BINDER, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Traps, of which the follow-y mined level, the trap will be automatically` cleared with a minimum pressure of steam by means of a steam valveso constructed as to positively remain open or closed, during a the clearing or lling of the trap, independently of the steam pressure in the trap. A

further object of our invention is to provide means controlled by the steam valve to open a valve permitting the clearing of the trap, so arranged that the'valve need not be balanced or compensated, but may be of the standard disk type. Our invention also contemplates such an arrangement of the actuating mechanism that the exhaust steam used in actuating the valve, when released, will kbe prevented from escaping direct to the atmosphere and immediately condensing, but will be distributed over a comparatively large heated surface and allowed to dissipate gradually. Another object of the inventionis to provide means to hold open the exhaust valve to allow steam to be blown through the trap.

A preferred embodiment of our invention is shown in the` accompanying drawings wherein l c Figure 1 is a side view of the trap partly in section. p

Fig. 2 is a rear view, partly in section, showing in detail a portion of the mechanism for automatically operating the water discharge valve. c

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the supporting plate for the exhaust valve lever arrangement taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, i918.

Serial No. 145.583.

a is a casing of cylindrical form and provided with the flange Z. 'N ear the top of the casing is the inlet port c having opposite to it the deflector y extending downwardly to a point near thebottom of the casing. Near the bottom on the opposite side of the casing is the exhaust port cZ. Thejcover 6, having the flange f and provided with? the recess g, is suitablyL fastened to the casing. Fastened to the'under side of the cover and extending downwardlyy into the casing is the hanger h. Extending through the cover adjacent to the `hanger is the needle valve i, having the adjustable stem j.' Pivoted to the hanger h by the pin lc isthe lever Z engaging at one end the valve stem and at its opposite end pivoted to the link n. Below the lever Z and pivoted to the opposite side of the hanger is the bifurcated levery p'pivoted at 0 and also to the lower end of the link n and having the counterweight ron its opposite end. The lever Z and the cross member s of the hanger are provided with holes at their centers, through which the stem t of the valve oat u extends. At the top of the stem t is adjustably fastened the stop o, and spaced below the stop ois adjustably fastened the stop fw. The stem t is adapted to move up and down vertically through the holes in the lever and hanger a predetermined distance fixed by `the stops o and fw.

The weight of the lever Z, link n and the part of counterweight lever p between its pivot and the link n, tends to close the valve and hold it closed. This weight overhalances the effective weight of the heavy end 1 of the counterweight lever when the latter is raised, as shown in full lines in Fig. l; but when the lever Zis lifted the heavy end of the lever is swung toward a horizontal position, whereat its effective weight overbalances the weight of the other parts of the valve control mechanism. Thus the weight of the parts Z, 'r1/10, of the valve control mechanism 1s so distributed and counterisy balanced on its pivots. Hence the valvecloslng and' valve-opening 4movements are partly effected by the oat and are partly` automatic and the valve control mechanismv will necessarily remain in either ofthe .ex-Y treme positions to which it is `shifted until LV it is positively moved away 'therefrom .by

the float.

To the 'covergev is fastened the cylinder e centered over the needle valve z' having a trough-shaped base formed-,bythe "annular flange e. Within the .cylinderis `the piston, 2, the head of which extends beyond' the outer walls ofthe cylinder, and from which the annular flange 4 extends downwardly bellow` the'top'of the flange The'base fis lprovided vwith they horizontal aperture' f5V which 'extends into the cylinder; and beneath the plate Bis the aperture 6 which connects with the aperture' 5.'V A' screw 7 'extends into the aperture 5, whereby'the escape of -steam from the cylinder may be regulated.

To' theftop of 'the casingY is suitably 'fas-z tened the bracketBand thelupright'Q hav-` ing at its upper jendthe stop 10 and having pivoted t'o it the "dogcatch 11. The Alever 12 lis lpiv'oted'to the, `bra'cketLat one endl and,v connected to the'pisto'n by means of the link 14 having a vsocket bearing. in the piston head yand"pivotedY to the lever 1,2.l To the lever 12'is pivoted the 'rod 17 which is y.pivoted atene end to the stem 19 of a plunger val-ver2()` "suitably4 positioned 1 at the exhaust port d. Passing "through 'a suitable aperture inthe base ofthe bracket Sand also pivoted to the lever 1-2 is a rod 22, 'having abo'utits lower portion the coil spring 23 held under' tension between the base ofthe bracketand.

the adjustable 'Stop 24.v

In practice, thevi'n'let port i ofthe trap -is connected to a steam exhaust mainmor drain".

Steam` and water', 'of condensation pass4 through the 4inlet port,l striking thefdelector and collecti-ngat thebottom ofthe casing.V

As lthejwater of'condensation beginsfto eollect-in lthe trap,thejpar ts' arein the positions shown in vfull lines in Figwl.l It will be observed th'at 'the lle'ver V12 is' in its 'downward position, and kthat?the,discharge valve v:is

closed. -Ajs the Alevel ofthewat'er in thetrap l rises, the float 'u rises, raising thelsteni ,Z and Q moving', the'stop'w t'owardthe lever Z. c Then the wate'lev'el lhas risen'to a poinwhere.

valve z' open.

the stop w contacts `with the lever Z and pushes it toward the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1. After the valve control mechanism is movedbeyond its deadwcenter the counterweight 7" falls, vmoving vthe lever Z to the position shown in dotted lines. The displacement of thelever Z pulls the needle through the needlevvalve into the cylinder z, causing the piston 2 to rise. The movement ofthe piston is transmitted to lthe lever 12, causing 1t to assume the positionshownprm' dotted lines inFigl, where it eontactswith the stop 10. :The upward movement `of the The waterv of condensation i'sfnow blown out of the'trap, through the water dischargey valve, kby the steam pressure in the trap",L i As the water level lowers, the float sinks, and the stop `w leavesthe lever Z, while the stop 'U approaches it. The counterweiglit"now acts to keep'thelever Zin raised position and the needle valve e' open, until the stop u' corr tact's with and presses the lever baci: toward the. posltion shownfin full lines of F ig. 1,'v

lifting the counterweight, until "afterthe mechanism moves beyond its dead',centerl and the counterweight raised to its former' position, where it acts to `keep the lever Zin lowered position and the needle valve closed.

When the needlevalve closes, the steam-"left in the cylinder e escapes tln'oughjapertures 5 and 6 into the base, Awhere' it is laterallv lit has been predetermined to clear the trap,

Steam immediately passes i lever 12 is transmittedV to the 'valve stem ,1.9.l through the rod 1'4", causing thevalve stem, to.rise,openin`g the valve." Thera'ising of .the lever12 causes the spring-23 to be cOin'-,

diverted by the plate 3 mi distributed met the heated surface 'of the trough which .preventsits condensation findalle-ws it to'dis sipate gradually. rllhe spring lat the same time acts to bring `the lever 12 baclto full line positionand'close the water discharge valve. Any leakage of steam through 'the piston while in its lraisedvposition is diver d downwardl'yl into the Vtrough 'by the annularf I flange 1, Where it is allowed to' evaporate. During the .time` that the needle valve is open, steam escapes `fromV thel -cylinderthrou'gh the 'apertures 5 and, G..` but in 'suchf c to affecvt'theworking' small amounts as not of the piston. v which escapes may bev regulated, by .the www 7- The amount Ifit'is'desired for any'rea'son to maintain i.

the exhaust valve open afterthe'ftrao s been cleared, the lever 12 inaybe i; f its upper Vposition byv meansgoff`Y r f catch 11. j, Q.

Havingnow fullydescribed' our invention,

whatwe desire'to 'claim and'protect by ters Patent is s 1, In a steam trap, the [combination vwith a jtank having aninletand Ian outlet of 'a f discharge vali/"el controlling' said outletflever mechanisml movable into two positions and so counterbalanced as to remain in either position to which `it is moved until positively shifted away therefrom, a float in the tank movable independently yof said 'lever mechanism for the greater part of its movement up or down but adapted, as it move-s toward yits upper or lower limit` of movement, to effect a shift of said lever mechanism fromone or the other of its said positions toward the opposite position, a cylinder, a piston therein connected with the discharge valve and Controlling its operation,

a steam valve controlling the admission of steam to said cylinder, and means operable by the lever mechanism to operate the steam valve.

2. In a steam trap, the combination with a tank having an inlet and an outlet, of a discharge valve controlling said outlet, lever mechanism movable into two positions and so counterbalanced as to remain in either position to which it is moved until positively shifted away therefrom, a float in the tank adapted, as it moves toward its upper or lower limit of movement, to eii'ect a shift of said lever mechanism from one or the other of its said positions toward the opposite position, a cylinder positioned above the tank, a piston in said cylinder, a rod connected with the discharge valve, a pivoted lever connected with said rod and plunger, a steam valve controlling the admission of steam to said cylinder, and means opera-ble bv the counterbalanced mechanism to operate the steam valve.

3. In a steam trap, thecombination with a tank having an inlet and an outlet, of a discharge valve controlling said outlet, counterbalanced lever mechanism comprising a pivoted lever, a link connected thereto and a pivoted counterweight connected to the link and tending to hold itself and the link and lever in one or another of two positions, a ioat in the tank adapted, as it approaches one or the other of its extreme vertical positions, to operate said lever and thereby shift it, the link and the pivoted counterweight away `from one or the other of said positions, and means operable by said counterbalanced lever mechanism to control the operation of the discharge valve.

4. A steam ytrap comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a discharge valve controlling the outlet, a steam valve, a float in the tank controlling the operation of the steam valve, a piston and cylinder connected with the steam valve, connections between the piston and cylinder and the discharge valve, a relief port yin the cylinder, and

means to throttle said port.

5. A steam trap comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a discharge valve controlling the outlet` a steam valve, a float in the tank controlling the operation of the steam valve, a pistonand cylinder connected with the steam valve, connections between ythe piston and cylinder and the-discharge valve, a relief port inthe cylinder, and a trough around the base of the cylinder and with which said relief port communicates.

6. A steam trap comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a discharge valve controlling the outlet, a steam valve, a float in the tank controlling the operation of the steam valve, a piston and cylinder connected with the steam valve, connections between the piston and cylinder and the discharge valve, a relief port in the cylinder, a trough around the base of the cylinder and with which the relief port communicates, and a member above the relief port and adapted 'to divert laterally into said trough steam escaping from therelief port.

7. A steam trap comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a discharge valve controlling the outlet, a steam valve, a float in the tank controlling the operation of the steam valve, a cylinder connected with the steam valve, a piston in the cylinder whose head extends beyond the walls thereof and a downwardly extending annular ange depending from the piston head and surrounding and spaced from the cylinder.

8. A- steam trap comprising a tank adapted for connection With a steam pipe, a steam valve, a cylinder connected to said steam valve, a piston adapted to travel in said cylinder and having its head extending beyond the walls thereof, a trough about the base of said cylinder, a port connecting said trough with the inside of said cylinder, and a downwardly extending flange about the head of said piston.

9. A steam trap comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a discharge valve controlling the outlet, a steam valve, a float in the tank controlling the operation of the steam valve, a cylinder connected with the steam valve, a piston in the cylinder whose head extends beyond the walls thereof and a downwardly extending annular flange depending from the piston head and surrounding and spaced from the cylinder, and a trough surrounding the cylinder whose annular wall extends outside 0f, and above, the lower edge of said flange.

l0. A steam trap comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a discharge valve controlling the outlet, a steam valve, a oat in the tank controlling the operation of the steam valve, a piston and cylinder connected with the steam valve, connections between the piston and cylinder and the discharge valve, a tension device tending to move the discharge valve into closed position and acting in opposition to the steam actuated piston, and manually operable means to hold said connections from being actuated by the tension device.

11u-A1 steamfi trap-w comprising s a tank" adjustableY means'adapted tofthrottle Said' adaptedfor connection1 With-a-:steamfpipmf port. 10 avsteam"valve,- af-cylindel: cpnnected to said In testimony of whichfinventiomwe'have steam val'vi-afpistomvadaptedtO-trave1-in hereunto set our hands, at Philadelphia', on

5 saidcylndeijandlzrzwing'itslhezil-lextending;L this 30th day. of January,- 19'17.

beyondn-thefwal-lls thereof,artrough-y about :the Y. .Y bgg-se of :saidf cylinder,y L port; connectingisaid LGUIS. R.' .MERTENS trough with the'A inside ofvsaidcylinder; and GOTTLOB BINDER'.

Cpies' of tl'ait-patdnt may be obtained fcvnA ifrgloqnts eachl bynaddressing-tlie Cmlhi-ssilonerfkot Ptfsf v WgvshingtonfD. C. Y. 

